University Key Policy

All keys issued
from the office of Facilities Services are the property of the Facilities
Services Department. Keys are on loan to
employees for the purpose of performing job duties while maintaining the safety
and security of campus facilities. At
the end of employment or upon request, keys must be returned to Facilities
Services; unreturned keys shall be considered lost and a fee of $12.00 per key
will be incurred. Passing keys to other
employees is prohibited. All defective
or outdated keys should be returned to Facilities Services.

Requesting
Keys

The University attempts to
distribute and control its keys in a centralized manner. The Facilities
Services Key Coordinator issues keys only upon receiving a valid Key
Authorization Card which has been correctly filled out and signed by the hiring
Head of Department. Only keys listed on this request form will be issued;
additions to the request form must be made by phone or email to the Key
Coordinator, from either the hiring Head of Department or authorized department
secretary. The completed original Key
Authorization Card shall be kept on file at the Facilities Services
office. Additional Key Authorization Cards
may be obtained from the Facilities Services office.

Returning
Keys

Persons leaving the employment of
the University shall return all university keys to the Facilities Services
office before receiving his/her final salary check. The Key Coordinator shall
document returned keys on the Key Authorization Card. Each key is identifiable as issued to a
distinct individual; upon receipt of a key, the Key Coordinator marks the key
returned based upon the stamp of the key, rather than who returned the
key. It is the responsibility of each
individual, to safe-guard the exact key issued to them by the Key Coordinator, and to return that
exact key at the end of their employment.

Persons on leave of absence shall
return their keys before leave commences. Part-time personnel shall return
their keys at the end of their assignment. Students shall return their keys at
the end of each semester. Persons leaving for vacation or
sabbatical may turn in their keys at the Facilities Services office for
safekeeping.

Students
- Key Holds

University keys issued by the Key
Coordinator must be returned to the Facilities Services office when instructed
by the employed department or at commencement time. Any student with
outstanding keys shall be placed on key hold (i.e. students will be unable to
enroll in classes or get transcripts while on key hold). Key holds will not be
released until keys are returned to, or a fine of $12.00 per key is paid at the
Facilities Services office. To prevent key holds; keys must be returned to the
Facilities Services office, not just returned to the department for which the
employment is occurring.

Key Inventory

At least once a year, the Key Coordinator shall conduct a key inventory to
verify all University keys issued to each key holder (employee, faculty, staff
or student). The procedure for each yearly check shall be determined by the
Facilities Services Director. Key holders shall have 2-months to complete each
yearly key check. If after the 2-months, Facilities Services has not
received the proper response, key holders will be presumed gone and/or keys
lost and a fee of $12.00 per key will be charged to the respective department.

Desk and File
Cabinet Keys

Records of desk and file
cabinet keys are not maintained at Facilities Services; however keys may be
obtained if available. Inquiries concerning key availability may be directed towards
the Facilities Services Key Coordinator, (785) 670-1549 or towards the Inventory Control
Manager at Business Services, (785) 670-2313.

Key Department contact information

What's an Ichabod?

Washburn's mascot, the Ichabod, honors the school's early benefactor, Ichabod Washburn, a 19th century Massachusetts industrialist. The original design of the studious-looking, tuxedo-clad figure was created in 1938 by Bradbury Thompson (ba '34), who became an internationally acclaimed graphic artist. Design wasn't Thompson's only consideration. To the stylized Ichabod the artist attributed the qualities of "...courage and enthusiasm, as shown by his brisk walk. He is democratic and courteous, for he tips his hat as he passes. Sincere in his search for truth and knowledge, he studiously carries a book under his arm..."